A walk in the park should be easy

I live in the Urbandale area. I enjoy taking my dogs for walks several times a week. I have two small mixed breed dogs that both weigh sixteen pounds. There are a lot of fenced in dogs in my neighborhood. To avoid disturbing the neighborhood early in the morning, I take them to Leila Arboretum. It is a nice place to walk, run, ride bikes and walk dogs.

Leila Arboretum has clearly posted park rules, most important to me, "Animals must be kept on a leash." But once or twice a week, someone will be enjoying the park with their dog's leash in hand and the dog is running free.

Then comes the "s/he's friendly" as I bring my dogs to "heel" position and await the introduction. Next my dogs are being sniffed over and my dogs are trying to reciprocate, but being on a leash cannot move freely. Then the hackles go up with a growl and the "friendly" dog takes offense.

Unfortunately, many dog owners do not understand! When a dog is on a lead and another dog approaches, the dog on the leash is in a compromised position. The dog on the lead can not interact with the unleashed dog and becomes defensive and protective of its owner.

So now my normally friendly dogs are put in a bad situation and get aggressive!

I carry pepper spray for self-defense emergencies. I do not want to use it on a dog for being a dog.

I have had to break up a fight and hold the unleashed dog by the scruff until the owner took the dog back!

I just want to have a nice, uneventful walk in the park.

C. Campbell

Battle Creek

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A walk in the park should be easy

I live in the Urbandale area. I enjoy taking my dogs for walks several times a week. I have two small mixed breed dogs that both weigh sixteen pounds. There are a lot of fenced in dogs in my